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EP 355.5 - Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster (aka Godzilla vs. Hedorah) (1971) TMI Rewind Episode!

·37 min·3 clips

Jeff and Jim revisit their first Thanksgiving monster special, spotlighting the bizarre 1971 film Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster.

The episode is a standalone .5 episode of TMI, revisiting episode 33, which was their first Thanksgiving monster special. Hosts Jeff and Jim spotlight Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster, also known as Godzilla vs. Hedorah. They note the film was released in Japan in 1971 and in America in 1972. The director, Yoshimitsu Bano, aimed to make an ecological statement about pollution, inspired by smog and garbage in Japan. Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka was hospitalized during production and fired Bano after seeing the final cut, fearing it would ruin the Godzilla series for children. The film includes graphic civilian casualties, such as people turning into skeletons from toxic fumes and a baby buried in sludge. The hosts describe Hedorah as a walking garbage bag monster born from pollution. They compare the American version, which features the 'Save the Earth' song, to the international version with a Japanese song. The film has bizarre elements like disco interludes, a dancer in a bodysuit, and fish-headed mutants. Godzilla uses his atomic breath to fly backwards in a concession to lighten the mood. The hosts discuss the film's unique lack of stock footage in the Godzilla series. Jeff gives the film a rating of 3, while Jim rates it 4.5 due to personal nostalgia. They transition into a confessional segment about favorite Godzilla monsters, with Jim choosing Hedorah and Jeff mentioning King Ghidorah, Biollante, and others. The episode ends with Thanksgiving wishes and promotional details.

As heard by us

A loose, detail-rich Godzilla spotlight where smog, acid rock, and monster-marathon memory set the tone.

Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster gets its own .5 TMI spotlight, circling back to the Godzilla stretch of episode 33 and the show's first Thanksgiving monster special.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a Godzilla rewind with a WOR-TV time capsule, a Mount Fuji bonfire party, and one nasty hit to Godzilla's eye.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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